
An Initiative for the Wellbeing and Protection of India's Children
WHO IS A CHILD?
The answer seems very simple. A child is any individual below 18 years of age. Someone who is 'by law' not allowed to drive, vote, consume alcohol or have consensual sex, amongst many other rights and privileges that adults may enjoy as citizens.
However, the context of a child when it comes to his/her rights is not that straight forward.

Similarly, the constitution of India guarantees only children between 6 and 14 years of age free and compulsory education. Employing children above 14 years is not considered child labour. In The United Nations Convention for Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a child means "every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier." Similarly, in India, child rights is not universal in nature. While all citizens below 18 are considered children, the scope of their rights they enjoy varies with age. Please refer to the table below for a better understanding.

